Kerry National Tips 2023: Back this outsider to claim Listowel win
There's a hugely competitive renewal of the 2023 Kerry National at Listowel on Wednesday afternoon and all the big name trainers will be taking their chance in what is a thrilling betting heat for punters to get stuck into. Our tipster Steve Chambers previews the race and picks out a big-priced contender that can at least make the frame...
Second in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, Gordon Elliott's Salvador Ziggy has continued his progression since being sent over fences in the summer and the hugely progressive seven-year-old has notched up three wins from three over the larger obstacles and is one of the leading fancies for the 2023 Kerry National. Last seen cruising to a 13-length victory in a two-horse race at Killarney last month, Salvador Ziggy will have a whole new assignment on his hands here, as he will have to contend with the hustle and bustle of a staying handicap chase with a big field going to post. The seven-year-old will line up off 150 for this event, so he will need to be very good to make it four from four and it could be he may just come unstuck in his quest for a four-timer and he is worth taking on.
Elliott will have a sensationally strong team of seven lining up in the 3m contest and while Salvador Ziggy maybe the flagbearer for the Cullentra House team they will have some notable understudies and the first of those is the top weighted Ash Tree Meadow, who was last seen storming to victory in the Galway Plate, where he beat Authorized Art by over two lengths, but a whopping 10lbs rise will mean he faces a tough task here.
Second in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Chemical Energy failed to figure in the Irish Grand National at the end of last season and could be one that finds this a little short, while The Goffer and Gevrey add more depth to the Elliott charge.
The aforementioned Authorized Art will take his chance for Willie Mullins and is potentially capable of turning the Galway Plate form around with Ash Tree Meadow as he was only handed a 5lbs rise from the handicapper for his Galway Plate second, but he's struggled to get his head in front over fences in recent times, so can be ignored.
Henry De Bromhead could be the man to follow in the 2023 Kerry National as he will saddle some leading players with the first of those being Ain't That A Shame, who was last seen finishing down the field in the Grand National at Aintree, but he could improve significantly for that experience and has to be respected.
However, the De Bromhead raider to take a chance with is LIFE IN THE PARK, who is at the bottom of the weights for this event and looks a cracking each-way play at big odds. A winner at the Punchestown Festival over hurdles, the six-year-old then kicked off his chasing career with a win at Listowel at this meeting 12 months ago. Since then he's been a real model of consistency over fences and finished third in his last five starts and he can make the frame again. Grabbing the bronze medal at Kilbeggan last time out in a similar race to this, he will take his chance off a mark of 139 again in this contest and while he will need a career best he has shown that he can produce solid displays in these sort of races and while many could be in the handicapper's grip he is capable of more this season and can land this prize.
Of the others, Stealthy Tom and Ciel De Neige are decent performers on their day and add yet more depth to a race that should be an absolutely exhilarating renewal on Wednesday afternoon with plenty of contenders fancying their chances of etching their name on a decent roll of honour.
